A careers fair is an annual one-day event that universities will hold. Employers are invited to hold booths at the fair and provide information about graduate programs and positions open at their companies. Careers fairs are therefore an excellent way for university students in their penultimate and final year to find out more about job opportunities after graduation. It can be difficult to navigate a careers fair as they are typically very busy, and time consuming. However, preparation is the key to finding amazing opportunities to kickstart your dream career as a graduate. This article will provide tips on how to make the most out of your university’s careers fair.
What to Do Before the Fair?
Research
Before you even attend the fair, it is crucial to conduct research into the different exhibitors. There are likely to be dozens of potential employers. With limited time, it is best to conduct research beforehand so that you have a priority list of employers and recruiters that you wish to talk to. You should also conduct research into the employers that you are most interested in. You can use the information that you learn when talking to the recruiters. It will demonstrate the extent of your interest in pursuing employment at their company and will be incredibly impressive.
Plan Your Day
Your university will have a site map available. This will document the different employers present and where their stalls are. You can use this site map to plan your day. You may decide to visit employers by order of priority, or make your way through the list of employers you wish to see by the way the room is organised. Regardless of the methodology behind visiting the booths, having a plan for how you wish to spend the day will ensure that you stick to a schedule that allows you to get the most out of the fair. It can be easy to get distracted or lose track of time. Planning is therefore essential to ensure a productive and efficient visit to the careers fair.
Prepare Questions
Prepare questions that you can ask the recruiters from your list of priority employers. This can help you start a dialogue and conversation. The most effective way to leave a lasting impression is to ask questions that demonstrate your level of interest. This means not asking questions that can be answered through a basic online search. If there is certain information that will greatly influence which company you seek employment at, ensure that you ask questions that relate to this. This can allow you to compare the answers given by different employers to reach a conclusion about what choice is best for you.
Plan An Elevator Pitch
You should prepare a short elevator pitch that you can relay to recruiters to introduce yourself. This pitch should consist of your name, what you are studying, and what position you are seeking after university. A pitch is a way for the recruiter to gain essential information about you. It can also allow you to instigate a conversation about the opportunities available for you at the company.
Decide What to Wear
An important aspect of making a good impression is the way you choose to present yourself. As a careers fair centres around meeting potential employers, you should pick out an outfit that is smart or business casual. You should appear clean, well-groomed, and professional. Your appearance should reflect the type of person that can easily fit within a recruiter’s company.
What to Do During the Fair?
Arrive Early
Careers fairs are busy. As a result, you will likely be pressed for time and may miss out on talking to some key recruiters. It is best to arrive early in the day to make the most out of the fair.
Take Notes
It is easy to forget important information or what every employer told you after talking to so many people. It is worthwhile taking along a notepad and jotting down the most relevant information you learn about each company. Taking notes may also demonstrate to the recruiter your interest in their company.
Take Resources
At a careers fair, the various stallholders will have a range of goodies on offer. Ensure that you pick up any brochures, flyers or booklets that outline recruitment and employment opportunities. This will provide you with the essential information on job openings, application deadlines, and recruitment timelines to ensure that you are well-prepared.
Hand Out Your Resume
You can choose to hand out copies of your resume to recruiters. They may or may not choose to accept it. Regardless, this is a good way to make yourself known to potential employers.
What to Do After the Fair?
Follow Up
Recruiters may have business cards or contact information available. You can use this to send a follow-up email to thank them for speaking to you at the fair and to express your interest in working at their organisation. You may also choose to email any additional questions that you may have. A follow-up email can allow you to leave a lasting impression.
Apply
After attending the careers fair and speaking to various employers, you will have a better idea about what companies you are interested in applying for. Before you begin your application, ensure that you read all the relevant material produced by the company and reflect on the advice and information you received while talking to the recruiters.
Find out more about virtual careers fairs or how you can get a graduate job at a careers fair here.
 | About The Author Aala is studying Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at the Australian National University. She is passionate about law, literature, and history, and has been published by ABC News. |